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Military Romance Author

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holiday season

How About Naughty And Nice?

December 18, 2018 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

Seems to be a trend in my recent purchases…….watch out 2019.

About this time of the holiday season I am ready for a break. Not that I do that much holiday stuff, but the expectations seem to spill out of every tv, ad and social media post about all the fun everybody else is having. I think we’re all stressed. Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanza or the Winter Solstice too, it’s a busy time.

It has not slipped my mind that these big holidays in the old US of A also correspond with the least amount of light and what would be a slow down in shopping given the bad weather. Cagey advertisers back in the day.

Holiday decor items I have bought this season include a lot of naughty and nice references. I’m veering toward naughty. Think this means 2019 might be a pretty fun year for me. One can hope.

What I like to focus on is rediscovering the kid inside each of us. Monday I was weaving through crowds at Target in search of cat food and peanut butter. I spied an adorable ice cream truck toy in someone’s cart. Instant love. I wanted to take a picture after getting the peanut butter, but the cart had vanished.

Our Generation Sweet Stop Ice Cream Truck from Target web site. Be still my heart! (Photo by Our Generation)

I did a quick recon around the toy department, but seriously without full combat gear it was a dicey proposition. Finishing my shopping I came around the aisle into the shampoo area and there it was again. Now, the cart owners were right by it so I couldn’t easily take a picture. I would have if the store wasn’t so packed, but it confirmed I could find it online when I got home.

Looking on my tablet I discovered it is the Our Generation Sweet Stop Ice Cream Truck and a Good Housekeeping Toy of the Year in 2016. A total of 129 parts! How did I not know this? It is for an eighteen-inch tall doll. I just measured my vintage Chatty Cathy. She is nineteen-inches tall. I bet I could stuff her inside. On sale at eighty-two dollars, that is still pricey.

Do I need a Sweet Stop Ice Cream Truck? No. Do I have room for one? No. Do I want one? Yes! Welcome to the holidays. While I should be balancing my checkbook and finishing the Christmas cards, I am dreaming about an ice cream truck for my doll. It comes in light blue or pink. I can’t decide! Chatty Cathy’s dress is pink. But I like the blue. Curses. 

What was I thinking? Costco must have cookies by the ton, right?

In the meantime I have a stack of holiday tins to fill with cookies by the end of the week. I do believe I may have over-reached on this project. So operation cookie bake commences on Thursday afternoon. Wish me luck.

Pristine. Before I started cutting into it each morning.

To indulge my inner child, this year I bought a Crafters Companion Advent Calendar on HSN. I’ve been having so much fun opening each door every morning and getting a new metal paper cutting die. My inner kid is so excited when I take my fifty-plus vitamin.

So let’s all give ourselves a break right now and indulge our inner child. It can be as simple as hiding under the blankets for five more minutes, having hot cocoa instead of coffee, taking a jammie day or evening, or calling a good friend we haven’t laughed with recently.

 

Or dreaming about an ice cream truck for your doll.

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a Sweet Stop Ice Cream Truck.

Or Aquaman. Or both.

I’ve been mostly nice in 2018. I hope to be naughty next year.

Cookies galore at my house!

Love Kim

 

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Filed Under: home Tagged With: Be a kid again, Crafters Companion, enjoy the season, holiday season, holiday stress, holidays, How About Naughty And Nice?, Kimberly A. Cook, Santa, toys

Of Pumpkins, Pachyderms And Mayhem

October 31, 2018 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

Sometimes you just need to self-medicate with candy. Today would be that day. I declare today calorie free for everybody! My big decision is whether to eat a box of Goobers or go Trick or Treating at Mom’s house for chocolate covered biscotti. I will be her only customer and I know what is in her pantry. I have wicked chocolate RECON skills.

I try to limit myself to one treat on Halloween, adult size, but maybe I get both today. Because I can. Now to hunt down my Snoopy Halloween plastic treats bucket. Maybe I can talk her out of two biscotti! One for backup.

Let’s be careful out there, to quote the tv show Hill Street Blues. Watch for little and big trick or treaters, keep warm and hug someone you care about – no calories in that!

On to the pumpkin smashing, elephant style at the Oregon Zoo.

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Filed Under: animals Tagged With: candy, Halloween, holiday season, hugs, Kimberly A. Cook, Of Pumpkins, Oregon Zoo, Pachyderms and Mayhem, peace, pumpkin smashing, self care, Warrior Tales

Making A Thankful List?

November 22, 2016 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook               (Twitter@  WarriorTales)

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Spending time with family and chowing down on turkey, stuffing and pie is always a winner. Each year I think about what I’m thankful for and make a mental list. The more vintage I get in age, the simpler the items on my list have become.

IMG_4151.JPG
Nature views like this one by Suttle Lake Lodge.

 

  • A day off to relax.
  • Sleeping in.
  • Real whipped cream on the pies.
  • Mom’s famous lime Jell-O with pineapple and cream cheese.
  • Laughing with family.
  • Gravy.
  • Full tummy.
  • Stopping the rat race for a national holiday.
  • Kitty cuddles.
  • Nap time.
  • Claymation Christmas.
  • Leftovers.
  • Pumpkin pie.
  • Good health.
  • Cozy warm home protecting us from the rain.
  • Taking time to listen.
  • Grateful for the good fortune we have.
  • Remembering family members we have lost but reliving the fun memories.
  • Thankful for the military personnel around the globe protecting us while we relax.
  • A Charlie Brown Christmas.
  • Hoping for peace and goodwill toward all women and men.

Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Let the competitive napping begin!

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Filed Under: joy Tagged With: family, Give Thanks, Grace, gratitude, Happiness, holiday season, holidays, Kimberly A Cook, nature, nurture, simple pleasures, Thanksgiving, true joy, Warrior Tales

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